The Aviationist
The surge in Russian Air Force flights in northern Europe is providing an opportunity for local air forces to take some interesting pictures of Moscow warplanes.

Russia has launched several missions flown over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea region in the last few days.

Beginning on Dec. 6 and continuing through this week, Russian Air Force has been particularly busy in international airspace close to the Finnish airspace forcing the Finnish Air Force to scramble its F/A-18 Hornets and shadow Moscow's warplanes.

A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 photographed by the Finnish Air Force.The Aviationist
Fortunately, the Finnish fighter pilots involved in these close encounters have taken some interesting pictures of the once rarer Russian heavy bombers and attack planes.

Two Russian Tupolev Tu-22Ms photographed by the Finnish Air Force.The Aviationist
According to the Finnish air force, Tu-95s, Tu-22M s, Su-34 s, Su-27s, Su-24s and MiG-31 s were intercepted by the Hornets in the last weeks.

Two Russian Sukhoi Su-34s photographed by the Finnish Air Force.The Aviationist